"Element". I didn’t know the meaning of the word, I wrote poems to my desk neighbor

Sometimes the search for an answer to a harmless, in general, question takes somewhere far away. Suddenly a flurry of disturbing images flies up. It circles in a whirlwind of strange presentiments. Covers an avalanche of fragmentary unpleasant memories.

Well, well, don’t be so emotional. It is enough to give a concise answer to the question, how do you understand the meaning of the word "element"?

Tell me, Plato and Aristotle, that you call the element

The philosophy of antiquity, and after it the Middle Ages, highlighted the four fundamental principles of the world. It:

1. Land.
2. Water.
3. Air.
4. Fire.

For the first time in the meaning of "element" these words began to be used by Plato. To these four primary elements was added another fifth. This is mountain rarefied air, which differs from the lower layers by radiance and transparency. It was called ether; it was believed that the gods breathed it.

Aristotle contrasted this element with the rest of the four. According to his teaching, water, earth, fire and air make up the real world, are transformed into each other. In the spheres of the cosmos, the ether does not pass into its movements.

Natural disasters are devastating

The second meaning of the word "element" is a natural phenomenon that demonstrates uncontrollable and violent power. If it obeys man, then in the case of the titanic efforts of the latter.

Hurricane, tsunami, earthquake - this is the element. And the environment where this power manifests itself is also called. There is an element of water, air, fire, sand.

Examples:

1. A hurricane had recently raged in this area, and disaster victims were visible everywhere.
2. It seemed that the showers had ended, but the water element was not going to give up.
3. Everywhere, to the horizon, there is only one water element without a hint of the earth.
4. The raging fire element drove the distraught animals away from the forest, which turned into a huge torch, forward to the saving swamp.
5. The caravan lingered on its way, the merciless sand element sent him a blinding and cutting storm of such strength and duration, unprecedented even in these harsh places.
   

Elements of public and personal

There are at least three meanings of the word "element".

Firstly, in the life of society, these are phenomena that are not controlled by man:

1. The element of the epidemic of this terrible infectious disease covers all new areas of the country.
2. The blind element of the civil war, sweeping cities and villages, collects a bloody tribute.

It is also a segment of society that is not specifically designed and weakly lends itself to external leadership. Example: dissatisfaction with the leader and in the element of rebels arose.

Secondly, the element is a natural habitat. Example: a free free sky is an element of birds.

The transfer of meaning in the word "element" occurs if he names the most familiar sphere of activity, well-studied topics, close and favorite occupations. Example: My element is dance, your element is flowers. I am a foreigner in your garden. And you do not dance.

And the last, somewhat abstract meaning of the word "element". Grade 4 may already be familiar with him, at least students of this age are able to understand him. This is the element of human feelings. She seeks to catch up with the powerful natural sisters, is often blind and no less destructive.